Australian Bluebell Scientific name: heterophylla

Aboriginal name: Gumug (Noongar)

Plant habit Leaf and stem Flower Fruit

About ... Family This relies on birds to eat the fruit and then Climate Temperate disperse the seeds. The seeds then germinate to produce a new plant. Habitat Open forest and woodland areas Australian bluebells are a common bushland plant Form Small ; twiner of the south west of Western Australia. This plant Height: up to 1.5 m has been introduced to the Eastern States, where it is considered a weed; as it forms a thick mat over the Foliage Long, leafy stems which twist around native vegetation. themselves or nearby Glossy green, leathery leaves The plant contains toxins which can cause nausea and Length: 50 mm skin irritation, so wear gloves if handling it. (Eurobodalla Shire Council) Flower Birak to Bunuru (Summer) but can flower all year around Intense blue Aboriginal Uses Bell-shaped Occur in clusters of two or more flowers • The fleshy blue berries can be eaten when ripe and Length: up to 10 mm are quite sweet with a soft texture Fruit Follow on from the flower Greenish-blue fruits Length: up to 20 mm Cylindrical in shape Contain many sticky seeds

ALGAE BUSTER Developed by SERCUL for use with the Bush Tucker Education Program. Used as food Used as medicine Used as resources Local to SW WA

Caution: Do not prepare bush tucker food without having been shown by Indigenous or experienced persons. PHOSPHORUS www.sercul.org.au/our-projects/ AWARENESS PROJECT bushtucker/ Some bush tucker if eaten in large quantities or not prepared correctly can cause illness.